Question

Discuss the biomarkers or OTUs that are significantly different by disease status. (Diabetes positive vs negative)

Discuss the bomarkers or OTUs that are significantly different by BMI category. (Normal vs overweight or obese)

Please give references!

Answer 1

The biomarkers or OTUs that are significantly different by disease status are as under:

• Persons with diabetes have an elevated level of gut microbiota, particularly an elevated level of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio as compared with healthy people or those who did not have diabetes. Hence, the gut microflora acts as a biomarker for the disease.
• Persons with diabetes may also show a decrease in the above mentioned bacteria levels with simultaneous increase in opportunistic pathogens and some endotoxins producing gram negative bacterium. These bacteria then produce inflammatory molecules which then further accelerate the process of inflammation.
• For those with diabetic induced retinopathy, a higher frequency of gram positive bacteria and a higher proportion of coagulase negative staphylococci was found. The predominant of them includes Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Higher abundance of  Enterobacteriaceae were found in those diabetic patients who suffered from kidney ailments owing to diabetes.